How the FCC’s repeal of net neutrality could affect Apple

The Federal Communications Commission’s roll-back of net neutrality rules take effect on June 11, re-igniting a firestorm of debate and speculation over the future of the internet in the U.S. But Apple, who supports net neutrality, finds itself in a unique position in the discussion: It is one of the few companies that has actually been affected by the kind of restrictive internet provider practices that net neutrality aimed to prevent. tl;dr: The FCC’s repeal of net neutrality probably won’t affect users of Apple’s services, but it could end up costing Apple money to ensure its services are delivered properly. Apple officially supports net neutrality , a policy that was undone by the FCC on Thursday. Under chairman Ajit Pai, the FCC repealed the rules put in place under the Obama administration, which sought to make sure that the internet remains a level playing field for all businesses and services. The potential implications for Apple are significant: The company’s online services, such as the App Store, Apple Music and iTunes, could be affected by throttling or a hypothetical “tiered” internet, if service providers were to head in that direction. Opponents of net neutrality, including Pai and the administration of President Donald Trump, view it as unnecessary government regulation that stifles innovation. They believe that the Federal Trade Commission, and not the FCC, should be used to punish internet service providers who abuse open access. Supporters of net neutrality fear that without protections in place up front, service providers like Spectrum… [Read full story]